Dry cleaning machine



l Jan. 16, m34.

L.. E. ANDERSON DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed June 5C), 1932 INVENOR 055/5 //VDEESUM BY EMAC fz ATTORNEY 45 vessel l1.

Patented Jan.A 16, 1934 UNITED* STA 1,943,504 DRY CLEANTNG MAcmN Lossie Anderson, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Indiana Y Applicationsune so, 1932. @arial-N0. (520,144

My invention relates to a novel system for the dry cleaning of garments in the home. 4 4 One object of my invention is to provide a very inexpensive and compact dry cleaning system 5 suitable for domestic use. Another object is to provide a dry cleaning system of the above-mentioned type comprising an outer container to be used as a chamber for the dry cleaning operation and also as a` shipping package for the dry cleaning equipment and dry cleaning fluid. Still further objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The method by which I have achieved these objects may be illustrated by reference to the 13' accompanying drawing, in which Figure l1 represents asectional view of my dry cleaning system. assembled for shipment; Figure 2 represents a plan view of the inner container shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 represents a sectional view. 2o of my dry cleaning system in operating position.

Referring further to the drawing, my dry cleaning system as packed for shipment comprises an outer vessel 11, preferably a cylindrical metallic can, having a wide-mouthed opening 12 into which ts' a closure 13. Said closure 13 carries a centrally located internally disposed bushing 14 o r other suitable bearing means for rod 19. As shown, closure 13 is ofthe friction type having a U-shaped spring-like edge portion 15. Any other type of closure could suitably be used. Vessel 11 is equipped with swinging handles 16 for the convenience of the user.

Packed within the chamber formed by vessel 11 and closure 13 are an inner container 17, a plunger or agitating device 18, an operating rod 19 having a handle 20, and a corrugated paper board cylinder 21 adapted to keep the various interior parts from damage Vduring shipment. Operating rod 19 is' packed with its lower end in the space be- 4o tween container 17 and vessel 11.

Inner container 17 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a cylindrical can adapted to serve as a package for dry cleaning uid. This container is equipped with a. metallic handle 22 for easy removal from Container 17 is also equipped with a vpouring spout 22 and a closure cap 23.

My dry cleaning system is received bythe user in the condition shown in Figure 1. In order to put it into operation, closure 13 is removed and paper board cylinder 21, plunger 18, inner'container 17 and operating rod 19 are taken out of vessel 1l. A suitable portion of the dry cleaning iiuid shipped in inner container 17 is then placed in vessel 11 together with the garments which .55 it is desired to dry clean. Operating rod 19 iS y5 claims. (Cil fsa-3s) then slipped through bus-hing 14 in which it is l adapted to operate in a' vertical direction. Screw threads 25 at the bottom of operating rod 19 are next inserted in the corresponding screw threads in the neck 26 of plunger 18. Closure 13 is then 60 replaced in opening 12 of vessel 11 and dry cleaning is accomplished by raising and lowering handle 20. This causes plunger 18 to coagitate the dry cleaning fluid 4and the garments being dry cleaned. When plunger 18 is raised it creates 65 a suction effect, which causes. the uid to rush vthrough the garments, facilitating rapid and thorough dry cleaning. On the down stroke the fluid again passes through the garments.

I have foundrthat by this means it is possible to furnish a highly satisfactory home dry cleaning machine together with a package of dry cleaning fluid of the high priced non-nammable type at a total retail price which is not greatly in excess .of the retail .price of the same cleaning fluid as sold in a simple container which cannot be used for dry cleaning.

Although I have described my invention in connection with certain specic embodiments thereof, I do not wish to be limited thereby but only 80 by the scope of the appended claims in which I have set forth the elements of novelty in my dry cleaning system.

I claim: f

1. A portable home dry cleaning machine, comprising: a vessel; a removable closure for said vessel, said closure and said vessel forming a chamber; an agitating device; a handle and operating rod for removable attachment to said agitating device, said agitating device, handle and operating rod all completely disposed within said chamber; and means located in said closure to cooperate with said operating rod to permit the operation of said agitating device by means of said handle from outside said chamber; said agitating device, operating rod and handle when at tached together having a maximum dimension in excess of the inside vertical dimension of said chamber, the minimum distance from the bottom of said `agitating device, when attached to said operating rod and handle, to the bottom of saidv handle being slightly less than the vertical distance from the inside bottom of said chamber to the outside top thereof.

2. A portable home dry cleaning system, comprising: a vessel; a removable closure for said vessel, said closure and said vessel forming a chamber; an inner container disposed completely within said chamber; an agitating device disposed completely within said chamber; a handle and operatingrod for removable attachment to said agitating device, saidhandle and operating rod disposed completely within said chamber and at least in part between said inner container and an inner wall of said vessel; and means located in said closure to cooperate With said operating rod to permit the operation of said agitating device by means of said handle from outside said chamber; said agitating device, operating rod and Vhandle when attached together having a maximum dimension in excess of the inside vertical dimension of said chamber, the minimum distance froml the bottom of said agitating device, when attached .to said operating rod and handle, to the bottom of said handle being slightly less than the vertical distance from the inside bottom of said chamber to the outside top thereof.

3. A portable home dry cleaning system, comprising: a vessel; a removable closure for said vessel, said closure and said vessel forming a chamber; an inner container disposed completely Within said chamber at the bottom thereof; an agitating device disposed completely within said chamber on top of said inner container; a handle and operating rod for removable attachment to said agitating device, said handle and operating rod disposed completely within said chamber and at least in part between said inner container and 4an inner side wall of said vessel; and bearing 'means depending from said closure to cooperate with said operating rod to permit the operation of said agitating device by means of said handle from outside said chamber; said agitating device, operating rod and handle when attached together having a maximum dimension in excess of the inside vertical dimension of said chamber, the minimum distance from the bottom of said agitating device, when attached to said operating rod and handle, to the bottom of said handle being slightly less than the vertical distance from the inside bottom of said chamber to the outside top thereof.

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4. A portable home dry cleaning system comprising a vessel, a closure for the mouth of said vessel, said vessel and said closure forming a dry cleaning chamber, an inner container disposed completely within said chamber at the bottom thereof, an agitating device disposed completely Within said chamber on top of said inner container, operating means for operating said agitating device from outside of said chamber through said closure, said operating means being disposed completely within said chamber and extending along the side of said inner container between said inner container and said vessel, and means disposed between said agitating device and said closure to inhibit relative motion of said inner container and said agitating device while disposed within said chamber.

5. A portable home dry cleaning system comprising a wide-mouthed vessel, a closure for the mouth of said vessel, said vessel and said closure forming a dry cleaning chamber,'an inner container of dry cleaning iiuid disposed completely Within said chamber at the bottom thereof, a

handle afxed to the top of said inner container,

an agitating device of the suction plunger type disposed completely within saidv chamber on top of said inner container and surrounding said ham die, operating means for operating said agitating device from outside of said chamber through said closure, said operating means being disposed completely Within said chamber and extending along the side of said inner container between said inner containervand said vessel, bearing means fory said operating means carried by said closure `and disposed within said chamber, and means disposed between said agitating device and said closure to inhibit relative motion of said inner container and said agitating device while disposed within said chamber.

LOSSIE E. ANDERSON. 

